{"id":661690,"date":"2026-04-03T23:05:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T23:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/661690\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T23:05:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T23:05:13","slug":"jeff-pyburn-dies-two-sport-star-at-georgia-was-top-5-mlb-draft-pick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/661690\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeff Pyburn dies; two-sport star at Georgia was top-5 MLB draft pick"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jeff Pyburn, a two-sport standout at the University of Georgia who became the highest MLB draft pick in Bulldogs history, died March 29. He was 68<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The son of Jim Pyburn, who played three seasons<\/a> for the Baltimore Orioles (and was an accomplished football<\/a> player at Auburn before that), Jeff Pyburn was chosen fifth overall by the San Diego Padres in the 1980 draft.<\/p>\n

MORE: Former Mets outfielder, 10-year MLB veteran, dies at 84<\/a><\/p>\n

Pyburn arrived on the Georgia campus as a Parade All-American quarterback from Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, part of a recruiting class that saw promise in his arm and poise. By 1977, he was Georgia\u2019s starting quarterback, holding the job into the 1979 season.<\/p>\n

Pyburn led the Bulldogs\u2019 run-first offense with what one account described as \u201cresilience and leadership.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

This is sad news. He was my cousin, once removed. Prayers for the family. Died too young. More importantly, he was a DGD. https:\/\/t.co\/xHDyiB0h0P<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Gabriel Sterling (@GabrielSterling) April 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Football wasn\u2019t his only lane. Pyburn was an All-SEC outfielder who finished his college baseball career with a .345 batting average. He hit .400 in 1980 with 15 homers \u2014 including three grand slams \u2014 an SEC-leading 54 runs scored and 66 RBIs.<\/p>\n

Pyburn hit .295, reached base at a .385 clip, and stole 74 bases in three seasons in the San Diego Padres\u2019 organization. He topped out at Triple-A Hawaii in 1982, his final season of professional baseball.<\/p>\n

There were 23 Parade All-Americans from Georgia in the 1970s, when I grew up. Sad to report that two of them \u2013 Jeff Pyburn (Cedar Shoals) and Joey Browner (Southwest Atlanta) \u2013 passed away in recent days. Pyburn was as good a 2-sport athlete as there was in those days (starting\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 GHSF Daily (@GHSFdaily) April 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Remarkably, Pyburn was invited to the Buffalo Bills\u2019 training camp as a defensive back nearly four years after he last played football.<\/p>\n

Instead of continuing his career in football, Pyburn enrolled<\/a> in Arizona State University Sandra Day O\u2019Connor College of Law, graduating in 1986.<\/p>\n

MORE: Vikings announce tragic death of six-time NFL Pro Bowler<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter my third year in the Padres organization, the Buffalo Bills called me,\u201d Pyburn said in a 2019 interview<\/a>. \u201cThey drafted me after my senior season, and had retained the rights to me. A few years later (summer of 1983), the Bills had gotten some guys hurt in their defensive secondary and, I thought, not many guys get to do this (play in the NFL), so I went up to Buffalo.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust before the season started, I tore my knee up again but, this time, it was a career-ending injury \u2014 no more football or baseball. In retrospect, I probably should\u2019ve just continued playing baseball, but I didn\u2019t. It was just one of those things \u2014 injuries happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pyburn went on to become a trial attorney, handling both plaintiff and defense cases for nearly 40 years<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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